In the arid landscape of derivative and unoriginal horror movies, the sight of something different can act like discovering a wellspring. Saying that S. Craig Zahler’s Bone Tomahawk is a wholly original film would be disingenuous. Zahler hasn’t created something new so much as re-arranged what’s already there into a beguiling and (eventually) nasty combination. First and foremost a western, Bone Tomahawk teases its gradual turn to the sadistic and bloody with its opening sequence before settling into its own unique groove. If anything, Zahler has immediately established himself as one to watch in genre filmmaking right now by creating something no one else is doing right now.

The aforementioned opening finds murderers/thieves Purvis (David Arquette) and Buddy (Sid Haig) stumbling on (and desecrating) the burial ground of a group of cave-dwelling cannibals. Cut to 11 days later, where Purvis takes shelter in the small town of Bright Hope, only to get arrested by Sheriff Hunt (Kurt Russell) and his deputy Chicory (Richard Jenkins). But Purvis isn’t aware that the cave dwellers have been tracking him, and overnight they kidnap Purvis, Deputy Nick (Evan Jonigkeit) and town doctor Samantha (Lili Simmons). Hunt and Chicory decide to head out on a rescue mission to bring back Nick and Samantha, bringing two more townsmen with them: Samantha’s husband Arthur (Patrick Wilson), recovering from a broken leg, and Brooder (Matthew Fox), a handsome gunslinger who claims to have killed more Indians than anyone else in town.

Not that the villains in Bone Tomahawk are Indians, as Zahler is quick to point out through a Native American character who refers to them as “troglodytes.” It might be easy to label the film as a revisionist western given its realism and subversion of genre clichés but, for the most part, it feels like Zahler is just creating his own strange universe within the Wild West. This extends to Zahler’s screenplay, which revels in stylized dialogue that will have fans of Deadwood feeling nostalgic (in this film, “Can you be quiet?” becomes “Is it possible for you to close that aperture?”). Zahler, a novelist making his directorial debut here, has a great sense of humour too, giving his cast plenty of opportunities to revel in his script’s seemingly endless turns of phrase.

It also helps that Zahler has assembled a seriously impressive cast for his first feature. The presence of a familiar face like Kurt Russell as Sheriff Hunt elevates the character significantly, along with the inclusion of character actors in every other major role. Matthew Fox plays directly against type as the ruthlessly pragmatic and vain Brooder, but he sells the role perfectly, looking like he’s thriving on the chance to show off a side of himself that hasn’t really been given the opportunity to shine before. At first, Patrick Wilson looks typecast as yet another portrait of wounded masculinity (this time in a more literal sense), but his casting feels like a subversion of Wilson’s previous roles once he completes his character’s arc. It’s the best role Wilson has had in years, but if an MVP had to be selected out of the cast it would have to be Richard Jenkins. He’s almost unrecognizable as the bearded, oafish Chicory, providing both the comedic relief for the film along with its beating heart once more details emerge about his past. It’s bound to go down as one of the year’s most underrated performances.

But the most surprising thing about Bone Tomahawk isn’t its screenplay or its merging of two genres that usually stay separate; it’s the film’s breathing room that helps the film stand on its own. The 132-minute runtime is a rare sight these days for a low-budget (under $2 million to be precise, an astonishing figure given how good the movie looks) genre movie, but Zahler’s writing skills and his cast make it hard to find a single dull moment. Each scene, no matter how much it might feel like a total non-sequitur or detour from the main narrative, always keeps the focus on character. And, admittedly, this makes the final act’s sudden shift into the grotesque all the more impactful. The less said about Bone Tomahawk’s horror elements the better (it’s best to watch it unfold without knowing anything), but its drastic turn into a bloody gorefest certainly leaves an impression with one of the most brutal death scenes ever put in a film. And Zahler shows his skills as a filmmaker by having this tonal shift work, using the strength of his characters to carry along the change in circumstances. Zahler’s curious approach might not work all the time, and the meshing of two disparate genres doesn’t always come together nicely, but it makes for a fascinating and (mostly) entertaining experience.

After an impressive first season, that not only drew from its 1996 film origin but added elaborate depth and sustained an intriguing and comedic noir, FX’s Fargo is finally giving us an in-depth glimpse at season two.

A few things we already knew: Season two is set in 1979 in Luverne, MN and Sioux Falls, SD (a town near and dear to this website) and revolves around a case mentioned a few times in the first season. Following their established knack for an elaborate and well-rounded ensemble, the faces featured in season two’s trailer show just what a punch this next season is likely to pack. Patrick Wilson and Ted Danson are the lead law enforcement characters, trying to solve a murder that appears to include connections with what amounts to the perfect Hollywood Midwestern barbeque guest list: Jean Smart, Kieran Culkin, Nick Offerman, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Bokeem Woodbine, Jeffrey Donovan, Cristin Milioti and we didn’t even get a glimpse of Bruce Campbell yet!

The ’70s references are abundant, starting off with a Watergate joke and tying in with Dunst’s character showing an interest in ’70s cult-like New Age training program, Lifespring. Dunst always did look pretty great with feathered hair.

The trailer is plenty promising with what looks like all the same dark humor and as much if not more of the twisty murder mystery we came to crave from season one. The only downside? Because FX took their time renewing the show after season one, we have to wait until October before we get to watch. But with all that snow, it might just make for a more fitting viewing experience.

Many film fans are familiar with the work of the late novelist Patricia Highsmith, whether they know it or not, as her books have been adapted into several films including the Alfred Hitchcock classic Strangers on a Train, and the not as classic Matt Damon-lead The Talented Mr. Ripley. The most recent Highsmith film adaptation, Hossein Amini’s The Two Faces of January, has been making the festival rounds and will be showing at the LA Film Festival in June.

Now, another one of the well-loved author’s novels is set for adaptation with a cast led by Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Imogen Poots, and Toby Jones. The as-of-yet untitled adaptation of Highsmith’s novel The Blunderer will be directed by Andy Goddard. Killer Films’ Christine Vachon & David Hinojosa are attached to produce, and Sierra Pictures is set to finance the psychological thriller, which will search for buyers in Cannes.

Production company Killer Films has a history of facilitating filmmakers in preparing their first or second features. Just since 2013 the production company has worked with John Krokidas (Kill Your Darlings), Lance Edmands (Bluebird), Andrew T. Betzer (Young Bodies Heal Quickly), Tristan Patterson (Electric Slide), and Jason Stone (the upcoming film The Calling) in getting their first films made. While director Andy Goddard is far from inexperienced (having directed a lot of television including several Downton Abbey episodes) this will only be his second feature film, and his first American-made movie.

Production is slated to start on this film later this year.

Source: Deadline

A brand spanking new teaser trailer has been released for the upcoming James Wan directed Horror film, The Conjuring. And boy does it look to have some promise. While details are a little foggy at the moment, we do have some information on the plot. Family moves into an old farm house in the New England country side and it seems to be housing some old spirits. Judging from this trailer these spirits like to play games.

While the trailer doesn’t show them, the film stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Ron Livingston. Wilson is of course a Wan veteran having starred in his previous effort Insidious. The trailer itself features the greatly under appreciated Lili Taylor and her kids playing a fun little game in the old house that is marred by some devilish fiends.

Wan is probably most famous for directing the first entry in the Saw series. His other gigs have included Dead Silence, Death Sentence and the aforementioned Insidious (which I’m now seeing is getting a sequel). The film was written by twin screenwriters Chad and Carey Hayes, who together have written White Out, House of Wax remake and The Reaping.

Watch the official trailer for The Conjuring